Ultherapy in Toronto & Markham

The three working depths

4.5 mm reaches the SMAS, the layer of muscle and tissue that holds up the face. Jawline and neck work is done here. 3.0 mm treats the deep dermis (the deep part of the skin) for skin quality and mid-face support. 1.5 mm is close to the surface. It is used on thin skin, where the deeper handpieces are not appropriate. Merz warns against treating the eyes, over the eyelids or inside the bony rim around the eye.

Why results take months

The visible change comes from your body rebuilding collagen, not from the heat itself. Merz says the final result develops over two to three months. Some people notice an early lift, but swelling can also make your skin look tighter at first.

What it does not do

It does not remove fat, fill hollows, resurface skin, or treat pigment. Combining it with the treatments that do those things is common, and the order matters. You discuss the order at your consultation, not as a package.

• Short answerYes, Ultherapy can be uncomfortable, but there is no downtime.
• Session lengthAbout 45–90 minutes depending on the areas treated
• DuringHeat and prickling at the moment each line is delivered; comfort measures are discussed beforehand
• Immediately afterPossible redness, mild swelling, tenderness. Normal activity the same day
• How much it hurts: Ultherapy is more uncomfortable than most non-invasive treatments, and many patients find it more uncomfortable than Thermage FLX or Sofwave, though no head-to-head study has measured this. It is typically 4–7 out of 10 with our standard comfort protocol, which is numbing cream plus medicine by mouth. In pooled studies, average pain was about 5 out of 10.
• Where you feel it: Each pulse causes brief, deep heat, especially over bony areas such as the jaw, chin and brow.
• Pain relief: Numbing cream goes on 60 minutes before treatment. A nerve block and Pro-Nox, a gas you breathe in (nitrous oxide and oxygen), are optional extras.
• Comfort during treatment: Dr. Xu adjusts the energy to your comfort and pauses whenever you need a moment to breathe. If you have low pain tolerance, ask about more comfort options at consultation.

Discomfort during treatment is real, and it varies between people and between depths. It is managed, not eliminated.

Expected after treatment

• Redness for a few hours, sometimes into the next day
• Mild swelling and tenderness to touch, typically settling within one to two weeks
• A tingling or sensitive sensation in the treated area for some days

Less common

• Bruising, particularly along the jawline and neck
• Temporary numbness or altered sensation, usually resolving over weeks
• Temporary nerve effects — including temporary weakness or uneven facial movement. This is uncommon, and it is a reason Dr. Xu performs the treatment with imaging rather than delegating it
• Welts or raised lines in the treated area, settling over days
• Reported to the maker, with unknown frequency: burns, scarring, fat or volume loss, lumps (nodules), pigment change, nerve effects lasting months and vision changes

Contraindications (reasons not to treat)

• Active infection or open lesions in the treatment area
• Severe or cystic acne over the intended area
• Very thin skin or too little fat under the skin (risk of fat loss)
• Metal implants in the treatment area
• A severe tendency to form keloid or thick raised scars
• Dermal filler, mechanical implants or breast implants in the area, because the maker does not recommend treating directly over them
• Blood thinners, a bleeding disorder, herpes simplex, autoimmune disease, diabetes, epilepsy or Bell’s palsy. Tell Dr. Xu first, because Ultherapy was not evaluated in these groups
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Pacemakers, defibrillators or other active implants, and metal implants in the treatment area
• Significant skin excess where the expected benefit does not justify treatment
• Treating directly over dermal filler, mechanical implants or breast implants, which the maker does not recommend
• The eyes, over the eyelids, inside the bony rim around the eye, the thyroid, windpipe (trachea), major blood vessels and breast tissue, which are areas to avoid

Contact the clinic

Call if you develop increasing pain after the first days, spreading redness, blistering, or any weakness or uneven facial movement. These are treatable and are handled faster when reported early. For difficulty breathing or swallowing, or swelling affecting the airway, call 911 rather than the clinic.

This page is general information about how Ultherapy is assessed and performed at this clinic. It is not medical advice and does not replace a consultation. Results vary with tissue quality, the areas treated and individual healing.

As a general price range for Toronto, Ultherapy costs $1,600–$2,800 for the lower face (jawline and jowls), $2,500–$3,500 for the full face and $3,500–$4,500 for the face and neck.Prices are for reference only and reflect general Toronto pricing. Please contact us for your exact price. We offer both the original Ultherapy and Ultherapy Prime. Ultherapy is priced by the areas treated and the number of lines delivered, not by the session. Two people treated on the lower face and neck can need very different line counts, so one set price does not help before your assessment. Your plan states how many lines go to which area. You are told the number before the session, and it does not change without being discussed.

Current pricing, what a line count means, and how Ultherapy compares on cost with other tightening options are in the Ultherapy cost guide for Toronto. A written estimate for your own plan is provided after consultation, before anything is booked.

Accepted payment methods

• VISA / Mastercard / Amex / Debit / E-transfer
• Financing available via Affirm / PayBright (select treatment packages)
• OHIP: Cosmetic treatments are not covered by insurance